Increasing water costs hurt carwash, Laundromat

NELSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — The city is improving its infrastructure.

NELSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — A combination carwash and Laundromat here is the only private business with a water meter, and the owner is angry over plans to double water rates over the next three years, the Nelson Star reported.

The Dec. 23 story stated that Barrie Taylor, owner of the Nelson Car Wash spoke out against the proposed rate increases during a recent council meeting. If the increases occur, Taylor said he could no longer be competitive with other Laundromats.

Though he owns the only carwash in the city, there are three other competing Laundromats. “I’ll have no choice but to raise the cost of doing laundry if I have to pay more for water,” Taylor said in the story.

Plans call for a 6 percent increase for residential properties and non-metered businesses. Properties with a water meter will see an additional increase of 20 cents per cubic meter of water on top of the increase.

The city manager noted that the increases are necessary because the city is spending millions on infrastructure. The mayor suggested that Taylor build a well and wash cars using untreated water to avoid the charges.